Bordet er ustabil.

The table is unstable.

Breakdown of Bordet er ustabil.

• være: to be
• bordet: the table
• ustabil: unstable

Questions & Answers about Bordet er ustabil.

What does bordet mean, and why does it have the -et ending?

Bordet translates to "the table" in English. In Danish, instead of a separate word for "the", the definite article is attached as a suffix to the noun. For neuter nouns like bord, the ending -et signals the definite form.

What role does er play in the sentence?

Er is the present tense form of at være, which means "to be." It acts as the linking verb connecting the subject bordet with the predicate adjective ustabil, resulting in the sentence "The table is unstable."

How is the meaning of ustabil constructed, and what does the u- prefix imply?

Ustabil means "unstable." The u- prefix in Danish functions similarly to the English "un-" prefix, indicating negation. So, ustabil is formed by adding u- to stabil (stable), thereby conveying the idea of something that is not stable.

Do adjectives in Danish change their form depending on their position in a sentence?

Yes, adjectives in Danish can be inflected differently when used attributively (directly before a noun) versus in a predicate position (after a linking verb). In Bordet er ustabil, the adjective ustabil appears in its base form because it follows the linking verb er. If the adjective were used before the noun (e.g., "the unstable table"), it might receive an ending that reflects agreement with the noun’s gender and definiteness.

Is the sentence structure of Bordet er ustabil similar to English?

Absolutely. The structure follows a Subject-Verb-Adjective order, which is analogous to the English sentence "The table is unstable." This similarity often makes it easier for English speakers to understand and construct basic Danish sentences.